Is it the glow of a firefly in the garden's courtyard, or a candle burning within the gathering of flowers?

This beautiful couplet by Allama Iqbal explores the nature of beauty and the source of light. The poet poses a question: is this glow emanating from a tiny firefly in the garden, or is it a steady candle burning amidst the flowers? It’s a metaphor for uncertainty in life. Sometimes, the source of our greatest joy or inspiration is small and fleeting, like a firefly; other times, it is a constant, steady flame, like a candle. The poem asks us to reflect on what truly sustains us.